2022-04-27 10:01:26
Prelims Strategy
Around 40 days is left for Prelims. I will share my strategy which worked for me in CSE 2019 and CSE 2020. Both the time I cleared with decent margin after failing in prelims in CSE 2018.
A)
StaticStatic forms core of Prelims. Around minimum 55-60 questions comes from static area. Static covers your basic books (NCERTs etc) and classroom notes. There should not be generally more that one source for the same topic.
Many questions have been asked from history in last few years. So I think, no areas/subjects can be ignored. UPSC knows what all are there in basic books like spectrum, ShankarIAS (Environment) etc. so many questions are now asked outside these books as well. I would recommend to develop conceptual understanding from these sources and apply your mind to do intelligent guessing in exam.
Also one should see the trend and analyse PYQs to know which topics to focus more. For example many questions are now coming from pictures and glossary of new NCERTs History (class 11th and 12th). I covered Bhakti Sufi movement and Buddhism and Jainism in detail as generally every year UPSC has asked questions from these areas.
B)
Current Affairs Current has to be read with static part. I used PT365 along with google and online sources (Will share it). 1 year of CAs is enough. If one is covering monthly magazine of one year then there is no need to read PT 365. Also one source is enough, no need to follow Current affairs of two coaching institutes. Current Affairs (PT 365/magazine) of environment, Science and Tech and economy are important. Use GOOGLE to broaden your knowledge and gain extra knowledge.
C)
Extra SourcesFew topics like maps, environment, reports, International organisations, schemes etc requires further reading. Different sources can be used to cover this. (will share it in a pdf)
D)
Mock TestsOne should give both sectional as well as full length tests. One can give sectional tests of any one coaching institute and Full length tests of 3-4 coaching institutes. In my opinion one should give minimum 30-40 tests. Just by decreasing blunders and increasing efficiency in attempting paper, one can increase 20 marks.
1) It is important to give almost 20 tests in last 1 month. Avoid giving tests in last 1 week.
2) Giving 1 test daily, one month prior to prelims helps a lot. It helped me to get used to test and pressure environment. Also I practiced attempting around 20-25 questions in last 10 minutes after reading questions twice in 1st and 2nd iteration. As the real prelims paper would feel always lengthy than mocks, so practice to perform like Dhoni, attempting more questions while maintaining accuracy.
3) Analysis of test is as important as giving tests. See in which areas you are making mistakes.
4) I decided how to give my real prelims paper based upon my performance in these mock tests. Like when to start bubbling (at 1:35hrs), how many iterations to use (3), how many questions to attempt (90-95), which questions to leave (questions in history as it was my weak area) etc etc.
E)
Revision: There should be minimum 3 revisions
1) The last revision will happen in 4days starting from 1st June
2) 20 days for 2nd revision (10th may-30th may)- make short notes as well, Ready Reckoner by LA Excellence can be referred
3) 1 month for 1st revision and reading new things
Covering static portion well, limiting current affairs, revising the same thing many times, doing less blunder and improving intelligent guessing are important to improve one’s chance to clear Prelims.
Best wishes !!
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